Duplex locomotive



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W. E. GATCHEL DUPLEX LOGOMOTIVE Filed DSC. 7, 1932 w @v ,QSA

Dec. 17, .1935.

Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUPLEX LOCMOTIVE ration of Pennsylvania Application December '7, 1932, Serial No. 646,188

6 Claims.

This invention relates to duplex locomotives, and has for an important object thereof the provision in a device of this character of an arrangement permitting the use of supporting trucks having relatively small driving wheels,

thus providing greater tractive effort and rendering the locomotive suitable for use with steep grades and heavy lo-ads.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a construction of this character an arrangement affording a long total Wheel base distributing the weight on the road bed while at the same time employing a short rigid wheel base in each truck permitting the use of the apparatus l5 on tracks having sharp curves.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in apparatus of this character of an arrangement such that the exhaust from one of the trucks may be passed through a water sup- A ply tank or through the smoke box to provide draft at the will of the engineer.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement of this character affording a convenient method of providing steam and exhaust connections.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment `of my invention and wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a duplex locomotive constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the steam supply and exhaust connections;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through the exhaust control mechanism employed with the rear truck -in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral I0 generally designates a locomotive main frame supported from front and rear trucks II and I2 through pivots I3 which, as illustrated, are preferably disposed more nearly adjacent the outer axle of each truck. Pivots I3 are preferably of such character that when the truck is otherwise disconnected the truck may be separated from the main frame I0 by vertically shifting the frame. Each truck comprises a frame structure I4 supporting a pair of driving cylinders I5, each driving cylinder I5 having driving connections,

- not herein shown, with the wheels at the corresponding side of the truck. The cylinders of each truck have a common steam supply manifold I 5 and a common exhaust manifold I1, these manifolds preferably, as illustrated, prjecting toward the pivotal connection of the truck to the frame and connecting through a universal joint I8 with a longitudinally-extending conduit I9. Longitudinally-extending conduits I9 are placed in communication with steam supply conduits 20 or exhaust outlets 2l through vertically-extend- 5 ing conduit sections 22 which are universally connected at their opposite ends to the conduits I9 and to the supply conduits 2B or exhaust outlets 2l. Steam supply outlets 20 comprise branches of a header 22a leading from the steam l0` dome 23 or any other supply point of the boiler. The exhaust manifold I1 carried by the front truck frame communicates with the smoke box 34.

The exhaust from the rear truck is optionally 15 deliverable through a stack 35 extending upwardly through the Water tank 3S or to the smoke box of the locomotive. In accomplishing this result, I provide an exhaust outlet 2 Ia at the smoke box which has two passages 31 and 38 with one 20 of which the exhaust from the front truck communicates. The rear exhaust outlet 2lb instead of communicating directly with the stack is placed in communication therewith through one branch of a Y fitting 39. Each branch of this 25 Y tting has a butterfly valve All arranged therein, the butterfly valves it moving oppositely to v close their respective branches so that upon simultaneous movement thereof, as through link 4I connected to arms 42 upon the stems of these 30 valves, one branch is closed and the other branch is opened. Manipulation of the interconnected valves l0 may be achieved in any suitable manner; in the present instance I have indicated an operating element i3 disposed in the cab and connected through suitable link and lever mechanism lll with link III. The second branch of Y 39 is connected with the second passage 38 of exhaust outlet 2 la through a suitable conduit 45. Thus, the exhaust form the front truck serves to continuously supply draft while that of the rear truck may be selectively employed to heat boiler water or supply draft.

Since the construction illustrated is, obviously, capable of a certain range of change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: 50

l. In a duplex locomotive, a frame supporting a locomotive boiler including the usual smoke box, a water tank supported from said frame and arranged at the opposite end thereof from said smoke box, a stack extending through the Water 55 tank, a pair of trucks supporting said frame and one arranged at each end thereof, steam cylinder means for actuating the Wheels of each truck carried by the truck, and exhaust connections from the cylinder means of one of said trucks to said smoke? box and stack. Y

2. In a duplex locomotive, a frame supporting a locomotive boiler .including the usual smoke box, a Water tank supported from said frame and Varrangedv at the opposite end thereof from said smoke box, a stack extending through'the water tank, a pair of trucks supporting .said frame and one arranged at each end thereof, steam cylinder means for actuating the wheels of each truck carried by the truck, an exhaust connection between the cylinder means of one truckv and the smoke box, and means te selectively connect the exhaust of the cylinder means of the other truck With said smoke` box or stack.

3. In a duplex locomotive, .aframe supporting K a Vlocomotive boiler including the usual smoke box, Water-heating means supported by said frame and arranged at the opposite end thereof from said smoke box, a pair oftrucks supporting said frame and one arranged at each end thereof, steam cylindermeans for actuating the wheels of' each truck carried by the truck, and exhaust connections from the cylinder'means o-f one of said trucks to said smoke r,box and Water-heating means.

- 4. 'In a duplex locomotive, a .frame supporting a'locomotive boiler including the usual .smoke box, Water-heating means supported by said Vframe and arranged at the opposite end thereof from said smoke box, a pair of trucks supporting said frame and one arranged. at each end thereof, steam cylinder means for actuating the wheels of each truck carried by thetruck, an exhaust connection between the cylinder means of one truck and the smoke box, and means to selectively connect the exhaust of the cylinder means of the other truck with said smoke box or Waterheating means. l Y

5. In a duplex locomotive, a frame supporting a locomotive boiier including the usual smoke box, a water tank supported from said frame and arranged at the opposite end thereof from said smoke box, a stack extending through the Water tank, a pair of trucks supporting said frame and one arranged at each end thereof, steam cylinder means for actuating the Wheels of each truck carried by the truck, exhaust connections from the cylinder means of one of said trucks' to said smoke box and stack, and means to selectively connect the exhaust from said cylinder means with said smoke box or stack.

6. In a. duplex locomotive, a frame supporting a locomotive boiler including the usual smoke box, water-heating y .means supported by .said frame and arranged at the opposite end thereof iro-m said smoke box, a pair of trucks supporting said frame and one arranged at each end thereof, steam cylinder means rfor actuating the wheels of each truck carried -by the truck, ex

haust connections from thecylinder means of one of said trucks -to said smoke box and waterheating means, and means 'to selectively :connect the exhaust from said cylinder means With .said smoke -box or stack.

WALTER GATCHEL. 

